The Kuwaiti army said early Thursday that defenses were repelling rocket attacks and hostile drones, while sirens sounded in Bahrain and Qatar sent security alerts via mobile phones.

The General Staff of the Kuwaiti army said that any sounds of explosions heard were the result of air defense systems intercepting hostile attacks, and urged everyone to comply with security and safety instructions issued by the competent authorities.

In Bahrain, the Interior Ministry announced early Thursday that sirens had been activated, and asked citizens and residents to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place.

Reuters reported, citing a witness, that a security alert was sent via mobile phones in Qatar, while the Interior Ministry said the security threat level was high, urging everyone to stay at home to ensure public safety, before later announcing that the threat had passed and conditions had returned to normal.

United States launches new strikes against Iran

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said early Thursday that its forces, under orders from President Donald Trump, had begun conducting additional strikes against Iran to weaken its ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran's Revolutionary Guard threatened retaliation.

The command added in a post on X that the US is holding Iran accountable for what it called 'unprovoked aggression' against commercial ships and civilian crews that were sailing freely in the vital international waterway.

Iranian media reported hearing explosions in the cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirik in southern Iran and near the country's coasts on the Gulf of Oman. Mehr news agency said air defenses were activated in Bandar Abbas.

Earlier, Iranian TV cited an informed source as saying Iran would fully close the strait if it came under any attacks, while the Revolutionary Guard threatened to retaliate against US strikes.

Later, the US president posted on TRUTH SOCIAL a picture showing the destruction caused by US strikes on Iran, commenting: 'The US strikes came in response to Iran's shelling of ships on Tuesday.'

Trump added: 'If it happens again, it will be much worse.'